rebuilding a Ponton, need pics!

[livelarg]

Howdy all,
I just bought a 57' Ponton. It need a bit of love to get it back on the road. Biggest thing missing? the water pump. it was taken off and missing.

Right now, I need help identifying what is missing and how it goes back together.

Anyone out there have some good pictures of the front of the engine? I tried google, but i only found pics of the same side views. I need pics of the front that shows the water pump, plumbing and fan.


Anyone use an electric water pump?

thanks
Kent

[ScooterABC]

What ENGINE is in your Ponton?

[97 SL320]

Did you dig around the garage / basement for the pump where this car came from?

Before going too far with the water pump, bore scope the cylinders and look for rust. ( pull the valve cover too ) If no rust is found, use thin oil / diesel fuel to soak the cylinders for a hew hours then try to turn the engine by hand.

I'd then be doing a leak down and compression test. If this looks good, build a plate to block the water pump hole and attach any coolant hoses in order for the system to hold coolant. Remove the thermostat, fill with water then run the engine. You could even lightly drive it up and down the street in order to assess the car.

If the engine and trans check out, then it is worth installing a water pump. I'd expect this engine to be $$$ to rebuild so if it is bad / car is driver quality, consider a 4 cylinder and trans from a Ford Ranger / Chevy S10 / Early Dakota / 05 - 06 era Jeep Liberty - Wrangler 2.4 < the 2.4 in rear drive configuration is difficult to find.

[cth350]

basic parts, from memory, based on what you could have...
- Fan connects to pully and pump
- Pump sits in a cast alloy carrier
- Carrier sits below the thermostat, bolts to the block, has tiny bypass line from the head, a large port for an intake from the radiator and a smaller line from the car heater.
- That little bypass from the head is small metal pipe with banjo bolts on each end.

A banjo bolt, if you've never seen one is hollow, made of steel and invariably screws into an alloy fitting, so there's a ton of galvanic corrosion to weld the two dissimilar metals together. While you are waiting for other details, check if your motor has a small, tapped hole on the front of the head just over where the water pump should be. If there is a tiny hole with a few prongs sticking out, you're looking at a broken banjo bolt that has to be extracted gingerly after a little heat and penetrating oil applied.

-CTH

[livelarg]

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

What ENGINE is in your Ponton?

Its is a 190, with a 4 cylinder gas motor. Not sure the engine designation. I am learning about that stuff now. I think it is a W121?

The engine turns now. Story i heard is the engine ran fine, but the water pump went out. guy started working on it, but got ill and passed. then it was parked inside for the last 20-25 years.

A true barn find.

97 SL320: thanks for the tips. Will start on trying to get it going.


cth350: Thanks for the info.

Im calling the folks I got it from and asking if there is another box somewhere of parts.

thanks again!

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by livelarg

The engine turns now. Story i heard is the engine ran fine, but the water pump went out. guy started working on it, but got ill and passed. then it was parked inside for the last 20-25 years.

A true barn find.

And the classic " ran when parked " story. This far along " ran when new " no longer applies as moisture / time takes it's toll / we don't know how badly the engine was overheated. Be sure to lube the cylinders, turning / running an engine with rusty cylinders can cause damage.

Originally Posted by livelarg

Im calling the folks I got it from and asking if there is another box somewhere of parts.

thanks again!

It's better just to go there and have a look as they owners likely don't know what they are looking for and consider everything they don't understand " junk ". Do this pretty soon ( today ) as they might be throwing everything away.

[cth350]

The water pump itself is relatively simple to replace. The housing and that little bypass pipe are the things that are getting hard to find.

-CTH

[livelarg]

Originally Posted by cth350

The water pump itself is relatively simple to replace. The housing and that little bypass pipe are the things that are getting hard to find.

-CTH

Waiting to see if the guy I bought it from can find the other box of parts/

I found some water pump housing, but thinking about just switching to an electric water pump. Im looking at the hose routing then working on a block off plate. Then put on an electric fan.

Anybody do this?

[97 SL320]

While I have your attention, please measure the height and width of the grille, I've got a long term project idea in the works. Thanks.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

There is a good group of Ponton owners with a great library of information at mbzponton.org. You can download a workshop manual in PDF format for your car.